[% setvar title Perl 6 Summary for 2005-01-03 through 2005-01-11 %]
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    <h3>This file is part of the Perl 6 Archive</h3>
    <p>To see what is currently happening visit <a href="http://www.perl6.org/">http://www.perl6.org/</a></p>
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<a name='Perl 6 Summary for 2005-01-03 through 2005-01-11'></a><h1>Perl 6 Summary for 2005-01-03 through 2005-01-11</h1>
<p>Welcome to another Perl 6 summary.  In this summary, we will explore such thrilling issues as multi-dimensional slices of Chinese food.  After all, the amount of sauce any piece of Chinese food can absorb is proportional to its surface area, which is a direct function of the number of dimensions in which it is sliced (provided that we ignore degenerate cases like fractal cuts of Peking duck).</p>
<a name='Perl 6 Language'></a><h2>Perl 6 Language</h2>
<a name='1x6 vs 6'></a><h3>1x6 vs 6</h3>
<p>Craig DeForest wondered how to disambiguate a 1x6 2D array slice from a 6 element 1D array slice.  He suggested a syntax inspired by PDL.  Larry admitted to not having examined this particular issue and stated that he was open to suggestions.  Some suggestions arrived.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.language/browse_frm/thread/96503cca52fd9c56/143ada0ec06bb3d6?_done=/group/perl.perl6.language?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#143ada0ec06bb3d6</p>
<a name='code as comment'></a><h3>code as comment</h3>
<p>Stéphane Payrard wanted to know if there is an easy way to alias arguments to a function.  Thus allowing a longer version for readability when calling the function and a short version inside the function.  Larry suggested <code>$s is named&lt;subject&gt;</code>, which I like.  The thread then devolved into punning in French.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.language/browse_frm/thread/b3eee67e168e307c/1e865f9b0b1b2eec?_done=/group/perl.perl6.language?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#1e865f9b0b1b2eec -- main thread on p6l</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.compiler/browse_frm/thread/34c2d1c64556ad07/cab2f1836ad19582?_done=/group/perl.perl6.compiler?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#cab2f1836ad19582 -- initial post on p6c</p>
<a name='Perl 6 Compiler'></a><h2>Perl 6 Compiler</h2>
<a name='Pascal -&gt; Pcode -&gt; Parrot -&gt; Profit'></a><h3>Pascal -&gt; Pcode -&gt; Parrot -&gt; Profit</h3>
<p>Sven Schubert asked about the feasibility of putting Pascal on Parrot.  He noted that with the infrastructure mentioned in &quot;Perl 6 and Parrot Essentials&quot; the problem would not be too bad.  Apparently &quot;Essentials&quot; makes a few promises that we have yet to live up to.  But we are working towards it.  In the mean time, Stéphane Payrard suggested a way for him to kill to bird with one stone: Pcode.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.compiler/browse_frm/thread/31a7d76b780722ab/23815e6300154554?_done=/group/perl.perl6.compiler?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#23815e6300154554  -- Pcode suggestion</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/5b37e4529be13da3/03efb9c0ed436c59?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#03efb9c0ed436c59 -- initial post</p>
<a name='Grammar improvements'></a><h3>Grammar improvements</h3>
<p>Luke Blanshard submitted some rules for Perl6::Grammar.  Luke Palmer committed a slight variantion of his work, and the hacking commences...</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.compiler/browse_frm/thread/af402d8eaa2595f5/709e2b99e7df1547?_done=/group/perl.perl6.compiler?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#709e2b99e7df1547</p>
<a name='Parrot'></a><h2>Parrot</h2>
<a name='pop_pad'></a><h3>pop_pad</h3>
<p>Peter Christopher wondered why pop_pad had not been implemented last week.  This week Leo implemented it and asked for tests.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/98354eb8d0d4ad70/04dcf794b58ef4a0?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#04dcf794b58ef4a0</p>
<a name='Resizable arrays'></a><h3>Resizable arrays</h3>
<p>Simon Glover asked why ResizablePMCArray was so different from all of it Resizable*Array bretheren.  The answer is the Leo improved it.  This brings up an obvious task for someone looking for a reasonably friendly chunk of Parrot to work on.  Rationalizing the implementation of the various Resizable*Arrays would probably be a good task for a novice looking to dig into something.  Perhaps one who is on winter break...</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/f7fa725341795347/930c3b4d1c0a5f44?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#930c3b4d1c0a5f44</p>
<a name='Parrot 0.1.1 nci troubles'></a><h3>Parrot 0.1.1 nci troubles</h3>
<p>Ian Joyce noticed that parrot 0.1.1 was having some trouble with nci.t.  Leo admitted that this was the case, but it is fixed in CVS.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/d8dfa0fafe02dedb/8b10b2c544763410?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#8b10b2c544763410</p>
<a name='test or benchmark'></a><h3>test or benchmark</h3>
<p>Nicholas Clark wondered if resizablestringarray.t was actually a benchmark, because it had a big number which was really hurting his poor machine.  Simon Glover admitted to the copy paste error.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/691a2601522351b8/e78069511d71c018?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#e78069511d71c018</p>
<a name='x86 solaris 2.5.1 and 2.7'></a><h3>x86 solaris 2.5.1 and 2.7</h3>
<p>Andy Bach and Nicholas Clark worked towards getting parrot happier on the aforementioned architecture.  This thread seemed to peter out when Nicholas asked &quot;how do we run a callback unconditionally after gccversion is known, independent of its value?&quot;.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/9500522899e1947b/d074ce8ab3a62a63?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#d074ce8ab3a62a63</p>
<a name='VTABLE_call_method'></a><h3>VTABLE_call_method</h3>
<p>Leo and Sam had a disagreement about whether a call_method vtable would make sense.  I think that we are waiting for higher intervention...</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/8aae892b30afa338/aa30e97030cae110?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#aa30e97030cae110</p>
<a name='updated perlhist.txt'></a><h3>updated perlhist.txt</h3>
<p>Will Coleda applied Bernhard's patch updating perlhist.txt and streams.t.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/22bfbb14721de0ae/5c5636ab4ee74101?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#5c5636ab4ee74101</p>
<a name='Warnock Warnocked'></a><h3>Warnock Warnocked</h3>
<p>Will Coleda applied the long Warnocked update to Warnock's contact information with only a trace of irony.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/0034a7409597efbd/26896bd124b55178?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#26896bd124b55178</p>
<a name='gcov of perlarray.pmc reaches 100%'></a><h3>gcov of perlarray.pmc reaches 100%</h3>
<p>Simon Glover got perlarray.pmc to have full test coverage.  Nifty.  Some brave soul (possibly fitting an earlier description) should try this with the Fixed*Arrays...</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/cfeeb0ef3dde12e2/cdae29a89b1d92fd?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#cdae29a89b1d92fd</p>
<a name='Parrot under Solaris 9'></a><h3>Parrot under Solaris 9</h3>
<p>Nicholas Clark, Andy Doughery, and Christian Aperghis-Tramoni all tried to convince Parrot to work on Solaris.  They are brave souls.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/29ef269bdd16cb75/4f694b44349d51af?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#4f694b44349d51af</p>
<a name='parrot-config updates'></a><h3>parrot-config updates</h3>
<p>Peter Christopher asked questions about the parrot-config.imc.  He also provided an initial solution.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/55ea99da3b3804d6/0fca617bc5a38f44?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#0fca617bc5a38f44  -- questions</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/6fc67af19e318b3a/1230d9bda8fb8e02?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#1230d9bda8fb8e02  -- solutions</p>
<a name='Key Question'></a><h3>Key Question</h3>
<p>Simon Glover noticed some bad behavior with respect to Key PMCs.    Leo and Sam both admitted that it was bad and that some work needed to be done.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/c52d8b7fb46e4ebc/e3751681e70f1c9c?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#e3751681e70f1c9c</p>
<a name='Parrot PDL'></a><h3>Parrot PDL</h3>
<p>Bernhard Schmalhofer posted a pointer to PDL.  Luke Palmer pondered Piddles as Parrot PMCs.  Craig DeForest proposed a path passing through PDL's PP and pausing at Parrot.  (Parenthetically,  perhaps the preponderance of Ps in Perl, Parrot, and Python should push me to alliterate with another available letter.)</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/46014b8262325b39/ac1d0b1889657d86?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#ac1d0b1889657d86</p>
<a name='Parrot Syntax Engine'></a><h3>Parrot Syntax Engine</h3>
<p>Henrik Gulbrandsen introduced the powerful Parrot Syntax Engine.  Leo asked a few questions to which Henrik provided answers.  All in all, it looks really cool and makes me a little jealous that I did not develop the Tomita algorithm first.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/6c638108bf813c3f/54b769e955cedae1?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#54b769e955cedae1</p>
<a name='s/libnci.so/libnci_test.so/g'></a><h3>s/libnci.so/libnci_test.so/g</h3>
<p>Bernhard Schmalhofer moved libnci.so to libnci_test.so, as it really is for testing.  Leo applied it.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/6c5ada8ac62b3599/98645416ee9d7b0a?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#98645416ee9d7b0a</p>
<a name='segfaulting readline'></a><h3>segfaulting readline</h3>
<p>Matt Diephouse managed to segfault Parrot using readline.  Leo fixed it.  Matt pointed out a new bug that it introduced.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/0697a38c020c9142/8793d3ef6ed74697?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#8793d3ef6ed74697</p>
<a name='substrings of invalid ranges'></a><h3>substrings of invalid ranges</h3>
<p>Matt Diephouse noticed that taking a substring of an invalid range had odd results.  Simor Glover provided a bunch of tests for it.  Leo applied the patch, but mentioned that these corner cases needed to be hammered out authoritatively.</p>
<p><a href='http://groups-beta.google.com/group/perl.perl6.internals/browse_frm/thread/ce98e6dd1754a27c/4d536284ff2a9043?_done=/group/perl.perl6.internals?' target='_blank'>groups-beta.google.com</a>&amp;_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&amp;_doneTitle=Back&amp;&amp;d#4d536284ff2a9043</p>
<a name='The usual footer'></a><h2>The usual footer</h2>
<p>If you find these summaries useful or enjoyable, please consider
contributing to the Perl Foundation to help support the development of
Perl. You might also like to send feedback to <a href='mailto:ubermatt@gmail.com'>ubermatt@gmail.com</a></p>
<p><a href='http://donate.perl-foundation.org/' target='_blank'>donate.perl-foundation.org</a> -- The Perl Foundation
<a href='http://dev.perl.org/perl6/' target='_blank'>dev.perl.org</a> -- Perl 6 Development site
<a href='http://planet.parrotcode.org/' target='_blank'>planet.parrotcode.org</a> -- Parrot Blog aggregator</p>
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